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The Germanic-American Institute

EIN 41-6025383 · Saint Paul, MN

Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair65 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE MISSION OF THE GAI IS TO CONNECT PEOPLE TO A BROADER WORLD THROUGH GERMAN LANGUAGE AND CULTURE EDUCATION. THE GAI FOSTERS CONNECTIONS AND CONVERSATIONS BETWEEN GERMANY AND THE UNITED STATES TO SOLVE SHARED GLOBAL ISSUES AS IDENTIFIED IN THE UNITED NATIONS 17 SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS.

Income
$2.1 million
Spending
$1.9 million
Spent on programs
80%
Reserves
0.7 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 62%
Employees
63
Volunteers
336
Highest pay
$83,152, executive di

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Fair: 65 out of 100. Higher than 39% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    4 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 0.7 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 19% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 11% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 24% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    80% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 28 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 65% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    10 of 10 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    8 of 8

    Has a written whistleblower policy.

  • Record keeping policy

    7 of 7

    Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.

  • Board minutes

    5 of 5

    Keeps minutes of board meetings.

  • Board sees the tax return

    10 of 10

    Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.

  • Pay set independently

    5 of 5

    Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.

  • Independent check of accounts

    15 of 15

    Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.

  • No reported misuse

    10 of 10

    Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Impact evidence

Describes programs. Its tax return describes what it does but we have found no measurable results in it.

Programs described in its return (3)
  1. $642,916 spent. KINDERSTUBE PRESCHOOL - A FULLY LICENSED LANGUAGE AND CULTURAL EDUCATION PROGRAM FOR CHILDREN AGES 3-5 THAT ALSO TEACHES KINDERGARTEN READINESS AND WORLD CITIZENSHIP SKILLS. THERE ARE LOCATIONS IN BOTH ST. PAUL AND MINNEAPOLIS. SCHOLARSHIPS ARE AVAILABLE FOR FAMILIES WHO DEMONSTRATE NEED FOR FINANCIAL SUPPORT WITH TUITION.
  2. $466,720 spent. ADULT AND CHILDREN'S GERMAN LANGUAGE EDUCATION - THE GAI OPERATES A GERMAN IMMERSION PRESCHOOL, SATURDAY SCHOOL, AND SUMMER CAMPS FOR CHILDREN AGED PRESCHOOL THROUGH TEENS. GAI OFFERS LANGUAGE INSTRUCTION FOR ADULTS OF ALL AGES; SCHOLARSHIPS AND TUITION ASSISTANCE ARE AVAILABLE FOR ALL LANGUAGE LEARNERS. GAI IS ALSO A GERMAN PROFICIENCY EXAM CENTER AND OFFERS TRANSLATION AND TUTORING SERVICES.
  3. $382,571 spent. CULTURAL PROGRAMMING & ADVOCACY - THE GAI OFFERS PUBLIC CULTURAL PROGRAMS THROUGHOUT THE YEAR THAT ARE FREE OR VERY AFFORDABLE. LARGER EVENTS INCLUDE THE DEUTSCHE TAGE CELEBRATION, ST. PAUL'S OLDEST ETHNIC FESTIVAL, AS WELL AS THE ST. PAUL OKTOBERFEST. ADDITIONAL PROGRAMMING INCLUDES EVENTS SUCH AS ART AND HISTORY EXHIBITS, BOOK READINGS, DOCUMENTARY SCREENINGS, CURRENT EVENT DISCUSSIONS, AND HOLIDAY CONCERTS AND MEALS. THE GAI'S ADVOCACY WORK FOCUSES ON GOALS 4, 7, AND 16 OF THE UNITED NATIONS SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS. GOAL 4 IS TO PROVIDE QUALITY EDUCATION, AND THE GAI IS WORKING WITH THE STATE OF MN TO DEVELOP EARN-AND-LEARN APPRENTICESHIPS AS AN ALTERNATIVE TO THE COLLEGE-FOR-ALL MODEL. GOAL 7 IS FOR GERMANY AND THE US TO WORK TOGETHER TO DEVELOP BETTER GREEN ENERGY TECHNOLOGY. GOAL 16 IS TO FOSTER PEACE THROUGH COLLABORATING WITH OTHER ETHNIC ORGANIZATIONS TO CELEBRATE OUR JOINT HUMANITY. CULTURAL PROGRAMMING & ADVOCACY - THE GAI OFFERS PUBLIC CULTURAL PROGRAMS THROUGHOUT THE YEAR THAT ARE FREE OR VERY AFFORDABLE. LARGER EVENTS INCLUDE THE DEUTSCHE TAGE CELEBRATION, ST. PAUL'S OLDEST ETHNIC FESTIVAL, AS WELL AS THE ST. PAUL OKTOBERFEST. ADDITIONAL PROGRAMMING INCLUDES EVENTS SUCH AS ART AND HISTORY EXHIBITS, BOOK READINGS, DOCUMENTARY SCREENINGS, CURRENT EVENT DISCUSSIONS, AND HOLIDAY CONCERTS AND MEALS. THE GAI'S ADVOCACY WORK FOCUSES ON GOALS 4, 7, AND 16 OF THE UNITED NATIONS SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS. GOAL 4 IS TO PROVIDE QUALITY EDUCATION, AND THE GAI IS WORKING WITH THE STATE OF MN TO DEVELOP EARN-AND-LEARN APPRENTICESHIPS AS AN ALTERNATIVE TO THE COLLEGE-FOR-ALL MODEL. GOAL 7 IS FOR GERMANY AND THE US TO WORK TOGETHER TO DEVELOP BETTER GREEN ENERGY TECHNOLOGY. GOAL 16 IS TO FOSTER PEACE THROUGH COLLABORATING WITH OTHER ETHNIC ORGANIZATIONS TO CELEBRATE OUR JOINT HUMANITY.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Legitimacy checks

  1. Is it registered with the IRS? Passed.

    Listed in the IRS master file of tax-exempt organizations as a 501(c)(3) charitable organization.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  2. Has the IRS revoked its tax-exempt status? Passed.

    Not on the IRS automatic revocation list.

    Source: Automatic revocation of exemption list, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  3. Are donations tax-deductible? Passed.

    On the IRS list of organizations eligible to receive tax-deductible contributions.

    Source: Publication 78 data: organizations eligible for tax-deductible contributions, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  4. Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.

    Most recent return on file covers the year ending June 2026.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since December 1994.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  6. Is it in good standing with state regulators? Passed.

    Not on California's list of charities barred from soliciting. Other states are not yet checked.

    Source: May Not Operate or Solicit for Charitable Purposes list, California Attorney General, Registry of Charities and Fundraisers, file dated October 21, 2026.

Ratings and checks are our reading of public records, using the published method. They are not a statement about anyone's honesty. If you work for this organization, you can send corrections or results, confirm you want gifts through Veridonate, or ask to be removed from giving.